Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 209
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Not long after parting ways with Kang Seol, the broker and his gang were camping out before entering the city.
“Puhahaha! Hyungnim, did that guy fall for it?”
“What’re you talking about?”
“You sent him to Devrick! That’s basically a death sentence, right? Fake letter of introduction?”
The broker shot his subordinate a look as if to say what nonsense is this.
“No? It’s a real letter.”
“What?”
“Why would I bother writing a fake one?”
“But come on, doing a favor like that for some guy you just met?”
“Money makes anything possible. You don’t know the exact amount we got for this job, do you?”
“How much was it?”
The broker casually spread his fingers for the subordinate to see.
“…That much?”
“Yeah. Get it now?”
One of the subordinates cautiously chimed in.
“Still, it’s Devrick… He probably won’t make it across the border. Lucky if he comes back alive.”
“No loss if he doesn’t. I just pointed him in the right direction.”
“Kuhahaha! Whatever works. Now with this money…”
That was when it happened.
Thud…
Thud…
“Who’s coming?”
“Stay sharp. Be ready to draw your swords anytime.”
“…Yes.”
The broker bellowed at the figure approaching the fire.
“Hey, who are you, barging into our spot when space is already tight?”
“Haha… My schedule got delayed, and I missed my group. I was just looking for a place to crash, and saw you folks here first… Hope I’m not intruding?”
The voice was soft.
A very young man’s voice.
“Ugh… Thought it was trouble.”
“You alone?”
“Yes… I’ll leave at first light. Mind if I warm up by the fire?”
“A kid like you, just scouting around… Come sit! That cool with you, hyungnim?”
“Uh? Yeah…”
Thud…
Thud…
The broker’s face grew darker the closer the boy came.
A massive greatsword scabbard that didn’t suit the boy at all, plus his smile gleaming in the moonlight—it was all too suspicious.
“Stop right there! Everyone…”
Shing…
Splash—!
“Guh… guhuk…”
“Euk…”
One strike.
The greatsword was drawn in an instant, slicing the gang’s throats.
The broker couldn’t believe it even after seeing it. It was so fast, he hadn’t even seen the hand move.
“I have a question.”
“A… demon…”
“Hey, I’m Shuro~.”
The boy who’d committed the bizarre murder was named Shuro, the princess’s pursuer sent by Black Widow Briar.
“Did you see a woman, an old man, and a lanky guy?”
“W-what are you…”
The broker briefly thought of Kang Seol’s group trying to cross the border, but quickly erased it from his mind.
But Shuro caught the flicker.
“Hmm… Gonna play dumb, huh…”
Slash—!
“Ugh…”
Shuro backhanded the broker’s cheek.
Boom—!
“Wuuk…”
Next, a kick to the stomach.
Thwack!
“Kuuk…”
Then a sweep to the ankle, toppling him.
“Shuro’s good at lying. That’s why I know Uncle’s lying.”
“Hahk… hahk…”
“You saw them. Where’d they go?”
“You rude little shit…”
“Next time, your body parts separate. Answer now. Do it, and you walk away fine, no aftereffects.”
The broker wasn’t loyal to Kang Seol. He’d only kept the secret for the money received. With his men’s heads gone, he’d already lost more than he’d gained.
“…Sent ’em to Devrick.”
“So who’s Devrick?”
“Smuggler. A smuggler.”
“Point where they went on this map.”
Slide…
The broker placed a finger on the map Shuro handed over.
“Ah… Here, huh. Kinda far?”
“They left a while ago.”
“Where does the smuggler path lead?”
“Here.”
“Northeast Adelin… Nogurs, right? Mountains. Nice! I’ll head there first and wait. Bye, Uncle.”
“You said you’d spare me!”
Splash—!
The broker’s head flew.
“Shuro’s good at lying.”
Shuro puffed his cheeks and inhaled deeply.
Hooo…
Whooo…
Shadows slipped from the headless corpses, sucked into Shuro’s mouth.
“Belly’s full… Alright, let’s see…”
After studying the map for a bit, Shuro pondered, then gripped an orb.
Ssss…
Black mist clouded the orb, and a voice emerged.
【Shuro.】
“My aspiration, my glory, Briar-nim. Found their position. So, here’s the thing…”
Shuro shared his idea with Briar.
She listened silently, then replied.
【Good. That’ll do.】
“Yes! I can take out the runners in a flash!”
Soon after, Liona the princess’s whereabouts spread across all of Nevenia.
* * *
Back near Devrick’s smuggler path.
The princess’s group was still in a standoff with Devrick’s smugglers.
Devrick’s men had arrows nocked, ready to loose at any moment. And facing that killing intent, Kang Seol calmly threatened Devrick.
“…You threatening me right now?”
“Talk you like.”
“Looks like a threat to me.”
“Close enough.”
Devrick had guts, not flinching with Kang Seol right in front of him.
Instead, he seemed to be doing mental calculations.
Kang Seol warned him.
“We don’t need you specifically.”
“What? What’s that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. We just need the smuggler path’s location. We’re willing to pay fair price. We can just pay whoever else spills it instead.”
“Hmph, think my men’ll talk?”
“Who knows. And if money doesn’t work…”
For a moment, killing intent bloomed in Kang Seol’s eyes.
“We’ll have to kill you all. Someone’ll crack eventually. Gonna deny it?”
Devrick quickly judged and answered.
“…Fine. Thought you were just flies buzzing around the princess at first, but you’re a thug too. How’d you know we’re here?”
Slide…
Kang Seol finally handed over the broker’s letter. Devrick frowned after reading it.
“That bastard broker, huh. Got it. You can use the path. But pay toll for four.”
“No problem.”
Kang Seol heard the amount, then handed it over to Devrick.
After confirming, Devrick told his men.
“Prepare! You know we gotta clear out annoyances quick. These guys might bring disaster.”
“Yes!”
Kang Seol returned to the princess’s group.
“Taken care of?”
Chadolf asked first.
Kang Seol nodded.
“Let’s go. Long road ahead.”
“Good! Brispin, right?”
“Haha… What’d I tell you, Princess? No worries.”
“Just like you said! Yeah!”
“But yelling at them earlier was risky.”
To Brispin’s concern, Liona replied.
“Not wrong, though? How could I leave you behind, Brispin? And those criminals talking about life’s value—got me mad without thinking.”
“…That’s you, alright, Princess.”
While Liona chatted with Brispin, Chadolf mounted up and sidled next to Kang Seol.
“Ahem… That knight earlier…”
“Zeheim.”
“Hoo, I see. Impressive power—even the palace hadn’t seen it. Zeheim exclusive?”
“Not exactly.”
“Got it. You’ve got some moves. Hahaha! How’d you get chummy with Count Brispin?”
“Various incidents tangled us up.”
“I see. If trouble on the road, speak up. I’ll consider your position.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Chadolf was actually quite shocked by Kang Seol’s display.
‘Could I have done that?’
Protecting the princess? Possible.
But without taking damage himself? No way.
He decided to keep a close eye on Kang Seol from then on. And narrow the gap while at it.
But midway as Kang Seol’s group and Devrick’s headed for the smuggler path together, trouble hit.
“Waaaaah!”
Strange yells echoed from afar.
“What’s that? Don’t tell me they tailed us?”
“No way. No tails when we arrived.”
“Then what! They knew and came straight here?!”
Like sirens before cops arrive, the pursuers targeting the princess’s group were already upon them.
“We know Princess Liona’s here!”
“Devrick! You too! For mocking Nevenia’s castle—pay up!”
Devrick and Kang Seol’s eyes met.
[Your position has been exposed.]
[Sudden adventure ‘Smuggler’s Path Great Escape’ occurs.]
[Dangerous situation.]
[Your heart races.]
[Ongoing: Resonance emits imperfect signal.]
Adventure 29-1. ‘Smuggler’s Path Great Escape’
You made a dangerous choice.
You alone stand with Princess Liona, threatened across Nevenia—no, all Adelin.
Plus, your plan to use smuggler Devrick’s path was exposed from the start somehow.
You must escape this place.
Goal: Shake off pursuers.
This is a sudden adventure.
This is a dangerous adventure.
Remaining time 「Unknown」
Devrick glanced around and said.
“Boys! Prep to retreat.”
“Yes!”
“Nevenia’s got us sucking our thumbs anyway. Think of it as cutting loose early!”
“Got it!”
The approaching yells grew louder.
“You lowly smugglers, surrender quietly!”
“No need! Even decapitated, we get the reward!”
Kang Seol and Devrick guessed they were Transcenders.
‘Transcenders getting the opposite adventure from me?’
Transcenders moving on Nevenia’s commission. Kang Seol hadn’t decided how to handle them yet.
Wipe them all?
‘No, avoid that if possible.’
Indiscriminate slaughter for a goal was risky. The Transcenders he’d smashed so far deserved it, but these were different.
Just obsessed with adventure goals.
“Filthy Transcender bugs… They value life lightly. Set the forest ablaze! Keep ’em back!”
“Yes!”
At Devrick’s order, flames erupted throughout the woods.
“Kuuk… Fire! They lit fires.”
Devrick and Kang Seol’s group mounted and bolted like arrows.
Soon, the hidden smuggler path deep within appeared.
“Charge there!”
Thud thud thud thud…
“They’re entering the smuggler path! Narrow spot favors them! Shoot! Knock ’em off horses!”
Pshooo—!
“Kuuk…”
Smugglers hit by arrows and falling.
But the group pressed on regardless.
Horses entered the path.
Thud thud thud…
Unknown length, but narrow width.
Here, pursuers had to chase single-file—big advantage for Kang Seol’s group.
Thud thud thud thud…
Shortly after entry, far more hooves joined.
“Kill! Shoot ’em down!”
The better-mounted pursuers nearly caught up.
Pshooo—!
Arrows targeted the group’s backs.
Whirl—!
Slaaash!
Like before with Devrick’s men, Karuna’s sword wave knocked the pursuers’ arrows aside.
“Wh-what! What’s that?!”
“What the hell?”
Devrick laughed.
“Hahaha! Damn Transcender bastards! We’ve got a Transcender too!”
Thud thud…
Devrick turned his horse toward Kang Seol.
“Hey, jinx. Get ready.”
“Ready?”
“As is, they’ll catch us or hound us after exit. We collapse this place.”
“…Won’t we all die?”
“Prepped ahead, so no. Those bastards won’t get buried either, sadly. Anyway, midway, two pillars holding the ceiling…”
That was when.
Blazing energy surged from behind.
“You think lowly smugglers can escape me? Princess is mine too! The bounty’s mine!”
Devrick groaned.
“C-crazy bastard…”
A massive flame erupted from the pursuer’s hand.
“Die!”
Roooar…
The oncoming blaze looked set to swallow the group whole.
Even gutsy Devrick bit his lip, at a loss.
Ziiing…
[Sealed Ur’s Magic Path activates.]
[Deciphering unidentified magic.]
[Deciphering magic...]
[Magic decipher complete.]
[Magic Swallow activates.]
[Digesting flame burst.]
The flying flames vanished in an instant.
Thud thud thud…
“…What now? You do that?”
“Pillars first?”
“Damn… Almost there! That one! And the opposite!”
Busy with flames, pillars were right ahead.
“Collapse ’em!”
Mid-gallop, destroy pillars? No sane request.
But the target was spot-on. He had the ability.
“Karen! Karuna!”
Thud thud thud…
Whirl—!
Kang Seol spread his arms; Karen and Karuna emerged from his palms.
“Yeah!”
“Understood.”
They shot toward the two supporting pillars.
Shing—
Kablooom!
Kabloooom!
Near-simultaneous destruction roars.
Groooan…
Neighhh!
Pursuers’ horses halted wildly from the ominous tremors.
“It’s collapsing!”
As more pursuers piled up behind, the lead mage wheeled around and fled.
He bellowed, echoing through the path.
“Smuggler path’s collapsing! Everyone get out—!”